Tried to order a bass from Sam Ash

Steve S · #1 02-19-2010, 03:42 PM

Several weeks ago, I was in Charlotte, North Carolina when I stopped in to the Sam Ash store. I saw a Hofner Contemporary, played it but didn't make the deal.

When I returned home, I decided to buy it and called them, giving them my credit card number. They sent me an email asking me to copy the front and back of my credit card and my driver's license before they could sell it to me. I told them to give me the entire price and I'll send them a cashier's check. They told me that they'll figure out the cost and let me know. It's been five days and I still haven't heard from them.

This is the first time that anyone has asked to see copies of my credit card before they'd sell me the item. Is this how things are being done now?

jkramer5 · #2 02-19-2010, 03:43 PM

Steve S · #3 02-19-2010, 04:19 PM

I've bought gear from Musician's Friend and Bass Central and just needed to give them the information from my card. The person who took my order said that everything was ok but then contacted me later to say that his supervisor was worried about all the problems with the internet so wanted confirmation. They didn't seem to want my cash either.

mac94 · #4 02-19-2010, 04:25 PM

There is absolutely no way I would send any of this in an email.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve S

Several weeks ago, I was in Charlotte, North Carolina when I stopped in to the Sam Ash store. I saw a Hofner Contemporary, played it but didn't make the deal.

When I returned home, I decided to buy it and called them, giving them my credit card number. They sent me an email asking me to copy the front and back of my credit card and my driver's license before they could sell it to me. I told them to give me the entire price and I'll send them a cashier's check. They told me that they'll figure out the cost and let me know. It's been five days and I still haven't heard from them.

This is the first time that anyone has asked to see copies of my credit card before they'd sell me the item. Is this how things are being done now?

tekhedd · #5 02-19-2010, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac94

There is absolutely no way I would send any of this in an email.

Absolutely agree. Every server between yours and his gets a copy of the information, which is very very bad, especially if you include the numbers from the back.

It may be reasonable to give this information to someone when ordering something, and I suppose there may be some reason to give someone a photocopy of the back side of your card complete with signature if... if... no there's actually no reason to ever give someone that. Completely out of line.

Gord_oh · #6 02-19-2010, 04:44 PM

you may want to start looking for a lawyer....
stuff like this goes bad real quick.

9mmMike · #7 02-19-2010, 04:45 PM

Call back. Maybe they lost your info. Maybe the person you spoke to is not too swift. Call back if you want the bass. At least that's what I'd do.

xgator4u · #8 02-19-2010, 10:15 PM

order directly online from the website, via https: secure server. And remember you can get out of fraudulent charges made against your card.

queevil · #9 02-19-2010, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xgator4u

order directly online from the website, via https: secure server. And remember you can get out of fraudulent charges made against your card.

Yeah, you're right. You can get out of fraudulent charges made against your card, but when the time comes the banks and card companies don't make it as easy as they claim. Me and my wife just went through this a few weeks ago and it was nothing but a time consuming, PITA. Never do anything questionable or risky with you're card or personal information with the, "well if anything goes wrong I can always get out of it", rationale. Oh, and sometimes after all of the time it takes to contest the charges you're left with all or part of them. It happens.

The burden of proof is on you no matter how much the banks and card companies would have you believe otherwise.

If you don't take my word for this then you've never been down that road.

LaklandBass · #10 02-19-2010, 11:03 PM

sound to me like they arent supposed to take credit card orders over the phone but the employee wants his commission so hes making it look like you were there but the card wouldnt swipe.

Steve S · #11 02-22-2010, 11:27 AM

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll call them and let them know that I want that order cancelled..

bassbenj · #12 02-23-2010, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve S

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'll call them and let them know that I want that order cancelled..

Excellent plan! Rule: Never back-order (or by corollary long distance order) anything from Sam Ash. If it's not in the store and you aren't there, forget it!

My horror story. I ordered some instrument Sam Ash had on sale. The idea was when it came in I'd pay the sale price. I kept asking and they kept telling me it wasn't in yet. So after about 3 months I go in the store and decide to take a fit. I start yelling and the manager comes out to talk to me. He pokes around the computer and finally gives me the story. It seems that at Sam Ash when a sales person does a back-order that order is somehow attached to them and not store records. Well the guy that sold me the instrument quit and the store simply canceled all his back orders. Of course they didn't bother to tell me that and left me come in week after week asking about it and they kept blowing me off with the "not in" story. And this is just ONE of MANY Sam Ash head where the sun don't shine management stories. Never back-order anything there!

But that doesn't mean you should never buy anything there. Here's how it's done. Go to the store and decide what you want to buy and see if it's in stock. If it is, then check on line especially at the SAM ASH website. More often than not it's listed on line and is cheaper than the store price. Then go to the store and ask to buy it and then tell the clerk you found it cheaper on-line. They'll go to the computer and ask you where you found it cheaper. You tell them at samash.com! [I positively LOVE the look on their faces when you tell them that! :-) ] They look it up and match the on-line price. You pay no shipping. And you have it right now! What could be better?

On the other hand at least at our Guitar Center store I have had positively EXCELLENT service with back-orders and even better getting scarce items shipped in from other GC stores. Get this! They CALL ME to keep me informed of the status of my order. Amazing!